ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PERMIT FOR DISCHARGE INTO WATERS OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND REQUEST FOR COMMENTS

The following applicant has applied for an NPDES permit to discharge treated wastewater into waters of the State of Alabama:

MOBILE COUNTY

Alabama Power Company Barry Steam Electric Plant, Post Office Box 2641 Bin 12N-0830, Birmingham, Alabama 35291, NPDES Permit Number AL0002879, located at 15300 Highway 43 North, Bucks, AL 36512, for reissuance of a permit that limits discharges resulting from once through cooling water, cooling tower blowdown, and fire protection system waters discharging through Outfall DSN001 to the Mobile River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin; discharges from the low volume wastewater (LVWW) system, the ash pond dewatering treatment system, and the pressure relief well treatment system including low volume wastewaters, sanitary wastewaters, chemical metal cleaning wastes, cooling tower blowdown, coal pile runoff, Flue-Gas Desulfurization (FGD) wastewaters, ash pond landfill leachate, remote submerged chain conveyor (RSCC) system overflow, miscellaneous cooling waters, vehicle rinse waters, ash pond dewatering and decanting wastewaters, pressure relief well wastewaters, fire protection system waters, and stormwater runoff associated with electric power generation discharging through Outfall DSN002 to the Mobile River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin; discharges from the low volume wastewater system including low volume wastewaters, sanitary wastewaters, chemical metal cleaning wastes, cooling tower blowdown, coal pile runoff, FGD wastewaters, ash pond landfill leachate, RSCC system overflow, miscellaneous cooling waters, vehicle rinse waters, fire protection system waters, and stormwater runoff associated with electric power generation discharging through Outfall DSN003 to the Mobile River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin; discharges from Lagoon A including coal pile runoff, low volume wastewaters, concrete truck washout wastewaters, carwash wastewaters, fire protection system waters, and stormwater runoff associated with electric power generation discharging through Outfall DSN004 to the Mobile River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin; stormwater runoff associated with electric power generation and fire protection system waters discharging through Outfalls DSN010 and DSN019 to the Mobile River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin; intake screen backwash and fire protection system waters discharging through Outfalls DSN011 and DSN012 to the Mobile River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin; stormwater runoff associated with electric power generation, stormwater runoff from the administrative building and parking lot, and fire protection system waters discharging through Outfall DSN013 to the Mobile River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin; and stormwater runoff from the closed ash pond footprint and fire protection system waters discharging through Outfalls DSN020 and DSN021 to the Mobile River, classified as Fish and Wildlife, in the Mobile River Basin.

The thermal component of the discharge is subject to effluent limitations under CWA Section 301 or 306. The Permittee has filed a request for the continuation of a variance established under Section 316(a) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1326) which provides for alternative limitations for the thermal discharges associated with once through cooling water.  At this time, the Department has proposed the continuance of the April - November 108.0 °F monthly average and 112.0 °F daily maximum thermal limitations and the December – March 84.5 °F monthly average and 94.5 °F daily maximum thermal limitations established in the 316(a) thermal variance.  At this time, the Department has determined that the cooling water intake structure represents the interim best technology available (BTA) to minimize adverse environmental impact in accordance with Section 316(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1326).

Copies of the draft permit, conditions, limitations and a fact sheet, as applicable, describing the methodology for setting the limitations and conditions and other applicable NPDES forms and related documents are available for public inspection electronically via http://adem.alabama.gov/newsEvents/publicNotices.cnt, and at the following location Monday – Friday (except legal holidays), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  A nominal fee for copying and/or mailing may be charged.  Arrangements for copying should be made in advance.

Jeffery W. Kitchens, Chief
ADEM-Water Division
1400 Coliseum Blvd.
[Mailing address: PO Box 301463; Zip 36130-1463]
Montgomery, Alabama 36110-2400
(334) 271-7823
water-permits@adem.alabama.gov

Persons wishing to comment may do so, in writing, to the Department's named contact above within 30 days following the publication date of this notice.  COMMENTERS SHOULD IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE NPDES PERMIT NUMBER ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THEIR COMMENTS.  In order to affect final decisions, comments must offer technically substantial information that is applicable to the draft permit.

A written request for a public hearing may also be filed within that 30-day period and must state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing.  The Director shall hold a public hearing whenever it is found, on the basis of hearing requests, that there exists a significant degree of public interest in the permit application or draft permit.  The Director may also hold a hearing if he determines that it would clarify one or more issues involved in the permit decision.

After consideration of all written comments, review of any public hearing record, and consideration of the requirements of the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act, the federal Water Pollution Control Act, and applicable regulations, the Department will make a final determination.  The Department will develop a response to comments, which will become part of the public record.  The Department will post responses to comments as well as the final permit determinations to the Department’s website at http://app.adem.alabama.gov/eFile/.  To find the response to comments and final permit determination, you may search by the permit number listed in this notice.

The Department maintains a list of interested individuals who are emailed legal notices regarding proposed permits.  If you wish to receive such notices, please sign up here by entering your email address on the left side of the page and clicking the submit button.

This notice is hereby given this 19th day of August, 2020, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

Nondiscrimination Statement:  The Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in the administration of its programs.